Anyone who’s spent time (a lot of time!) writing and editing, you know how good it feels when you’re done. Well, I’m inches (days even), from completing my recent project. And thanks to Dinah, my editor, for extending the deadline by a couple days. Because I needed it! Sure most of the work is done, and I’m in ‘edit’ mode, but putting the final touches on a project is key.

Oh, and boy, have I gotten awesome reviews for Crust and Spray (Millbrooks Press – Lerner Publishing). And it’s tons of fun to go into a library and find my book there (one of several now!). And all my teacher friends have read the book, and love it for their students! Thanks again to Sarah & Carol at Millbrooks/Lerner – couldn’t have done it without you!

On another note, I had a terrific TV interview last month, October 30th, on KTTC, about the ghost stories (Ghosts of Southeastern Minnesota) from last October. I must say, I was a bit nervous, being that it was live and all. But Josh, Jess, and Ted (News Cast Folks), made it easy. I almost didn’t go through with it. But, like it or not, part of being an author is being a marketeer (no, not a mousekateer, although it feels that way sometimes). You have to get out with the public and let everyone know how cool your books are. In the long run, it will pay off. I’m sure of it. I also had a couple newspaper interviews – that’s fun too, seeing your mugshot and reviews on your work. So far so good – no bad reviews! (knock on wood)

Anyway, just thought I’d post a quick note on my progress. Come mid-December, I’m back at work on Infinity Blinks. That project will be done (hopefully) by February. Then it’s off to the publishers! Or maybe agents. All you billions of agents reading my post – FYI – I’m available once again!

Thanks, and happy RAWAW! (Reading And Writing And Wondering)

Chris

Yes that right! I’m adding another blog! That’s two in a row! Will I make it three in a row tomorrow? Well, don’t hold your breath. But I’ll try!

I still haven’t figured this twitter thing out yet. You’d think with my geekiness, my computer-consultant background, that I’d be up on all the latest coolest things. Well, I’ve just been a bit too busy. But tomorrow I have twitter as my priority! Just after family, work, and of course… writing!

Getting ready for an expedition to Lake Pepin for some real monster hunting (for my upcoming book, Strange Minnesota Monsters). That’s right, Peppie the Lake Monster. Many a soul have searched for the slimy beast, few have survived… Okay, everyone’s survived that I know of. But nobody’s found her yet. And there’s a $50,000 reward if you do. Count me in. I just need to figure out how to work my fish finder, dialing it to ‘lake monster’…

Before I forget, I promised I put out the cover for the anthology (Beacons of Tomorrow) my short story is in, so here it is.

Beacons of Tomorrow Volume II Anthology

That’s all for now! Hopefully tomorrow I can Twitter (whatever that is)!

Chris

It’s not like I dropped off the face of the earth. Or did I? Well, as usual, work got in the way of fun. So the writing slowed waaaay down. Not to mention adding blogs.

But I’m back! And I seriously promise to do better and blogging. I have soooo much to say. And this new twitter thing – gotta figure that out as well. I think that’ll be fun to do from my Blackberry…

What’s new? I’m waiting for the release of my 4th – 5th grade level humorous science book, Crust and Spray from Millbrook Press (division of Lerner publishing). That should be out this fall. The cover is amazing (not to mention what’s inside!).

And I’m still working on Strange Minnesota Monsters for Schiffer Publishing, due out fall 2010. That has been quite the ride, searching for Bigfoot, Wendigo’s, Werewolves, Vampires, etc. You get the picture.

I’m just finishing the final edits on my new manuscript, Infinity Blinks. Should be a fun tween level scifi/fantasy story, complete with aliens and dragons.

That’s all for now.

Chris

Wow! It’s been an amazing last few weeks! With my book, GHOSTS OF SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, officially out in all of the Barnes and Nobles across Minnesota, things have become insane. Apparently lots of people are buying the book. So much so that B&N warehouse has sold out! They’ve ordered more, of course, but right now I have a couple book signings at B&N that, sadly, won’t have any books! Still, I have one at the downtown Rochester location this week, Friday 10/17 from 11am to 2pm. Stop out and say hi! And of course, buy a book!

I have several other signings throughout the month, in particular, one in Mantorville on Saturday 10/25 from 11am to 2pm at a local coffee shop, and one in Lanesboro on 10/18 from 11am to 1pm at Mrs B’s Inn, home of the Buffalo Bill haunting. Should be way cool. 

I’ve also stopped in and signed some books for the shelves at a few B&N stores. And the good news is, most of the books are sold! I’ve gone into some of the stores to drool over my book on a shelf, only to find out there aren’t any! Or only one or two left. It’s also been nice to get great visibility – do to it beeing October (aka spooky month), my ghost book is out on a table with other spooky books – out in the main isles! Way cool.

In other news, I just finised helping at the Minnesota Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (MNSCBWI). I also got to meet some great agents, editors, authors, and author-wanna-bes! The highlight for me was driving the founder of SCBWI (our guest speaker), Lin Oliver to the airport. She wanted to tour Summit Avenue, to look at all the fantastic houses, so we spent thirty minutes driving around and talking about all sorts of things. She’s a fantastic person, unbelievably nice, and wonderful to talk with. Thanks Lin for an awesome drive!

In the mean time, I’m busy trying to finish up work on a new manuscript, INFINITY BLINKS. Basically a middle grade adventure story, with a touch of mystery and a hint of urban fantasy. Once I’m done with that, it on to finishing up KIDS OF UTOPIA. Then it’s SHOULDACOULDAWOULDA BEAN. Then finally I can get to work on THE GIFTING TREE.  I’m hoping to have all four of these projects done by the middle of next year. Then, who knows? Maybe I’ll write another nonfiction spooky story book. Monsters of Minnesota, eh?

Well, maybe not ghosts, but ghost books! I’ve been informed by my fan club that my ghost book, Ghosts of Southeastern Minnesota, is in all of the Barnes and Nobles in Minnesota. It’s even in Borders, and many of the libraries! Cool. I have an author signing setup at the downtoan B&N in Rochester, Friday October 17th from 11am to 2pm. I’ll be having several more in the month of October – more to come on that.

Also, I took the liberty of setting up a storefront for all of my fans to buy a fan club t-shirt. It says “I’d rather be writing” on one side, and “Got Book?” on the other. Of course, it also has www.cslarsen.com on it. So, don’t hesitate to buy a shirt ( or three) and support your local author! The website is: http://www.printfection.com/cslarsen. Oh, and you can even buy a mousepad! Cool, huh?

I just got word that my ghost book has been nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. Perhaps I’ll be one of the finalists, eh? No doubt with a little help from my spooky friends…

Still plugging away on the manuscripts, Kids of Utopia, and Shouldacouldawoulda Bean. There has been some new interest by publishers (and agents) in seeing the completed version of them, so I anticipate getting that wrapped up before the snow flies. Which is coming soon in the land of 10,000 frozen lakes!

TTFN,

Chris